EAST LANSING, Mich. - In the hour after Michigan State beat Florida for
the national championship, about 15,000 people celebrated outside the Cedar
Village apartment complex.

Bud Yemc, a district supervisor for Quality Dairy, was hoping history would
not repeat itself.

And it didn't.

"We're very, very pleased, other than normal messes after any big event,
there weren't any serious problems at all," he said.

After Michigan State's loss to Duke in last year's semifinals, more than
10,000 people ran through East Lansing. Some fans overturned cars, set
bonfires, broke windows and smashed parking meters, with much of the violence
occurring in Cedar Village.

Police arrested 132 people. Of the 113 people later convicted, 94 went to
jail.

This year, those celebrating the school's first national championship in 21
years were more peaceful.

People high-fived, chanted the school fight song and waved flags. Fireworks
went off, drivers honked horns and students waved from balconies.

"This moment right now, this place right here, is the best place and the
best time to be," said Mike Ansted, a financial consultant from Toledo, Ohio,
and a '96 grad.

Students body surfed through the dense crowd. One student climbed a light
and threw his shirt into the crowd. Another student had a Florida Gator hanging
by the neck from a pole. Three men had the letters M-S-U painted on their
bodies. Students held up newspapers with banner headlines proclaiming the
Spartans as national champions.

"We just wanted to go out in style," said Aaron Cloyd, 20, and one of the
body-painters.

Sounds of glass breaking interrupted the music and cheering. There were
reports of some injuries from thrown bottles and cans, but no serious injuries.
Streets were strewn with glass and garbage.

In the final arrest tally today, police Capt. Tom Wibert said 26 people -
including 13 Michigan State students - were arrested on indecent exposure,
disorderly conduct or alcohol-related charges. All crowds dispersed by 4 a.m.

"It appears to be a joyous celebration. One of our people there said it was
the largest crowd he had ever seen in the village," Lt. Kevin Daley said.

At Breslin Center, where thousands watched on four big screens, some who ran
onto the Michigan State home floor tried to pull down the nets.

The celebration Monday night began even before the Spartans scored their
last basket in the 89-76 victory over Florida.

The fans had been preparing for the celebration all day. Thousands waited in
line to get into Breslin Center, with some tailgating in the parking lot.

"This feels good," freshman Brandon Rohrbaugh said. "I had my moments
when I thought they might lose. But when (A.J.) Granger kept hitting those 3s,
I knew we were going to win in it."